Copy-holder.



2 Sheets-Sheet I.

vNo Model.)

No. 685,778. Patented Nov. 5. I90l. C. F. LUDINGTDN.

COPY HOLDER.

(Application led May 22, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WMe/ww ZQKJM/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FRANKLIN LUDINGTON, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

COPY-HOLDER.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,778, dated November 5, 1901.

Application iiled May 22, 1901.

To @ZZ whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANKLIN LUDINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Copy-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are adapted to hold copy to be transcribed and which are commonly known as copy-holdersg and the object of the invention is to provide a copy-holder especially adapted to be 1Jsed in connection with typewriting machines, whereby the copy is supported at the rear of the machine and directly in front of the operator, thereby obviating the necessity of the operator twisting or turning the head to read the copy, as in those copyholders which are designed to be placed to one side of the machine.

The invention consistsin acopy-holder comprising a base upon which the copy is adapted to be supported, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said base over the copy, a pair of arms or guides secured to said base and extending alongside the machine toward the operator, pull-pieces arranged and adapted to slide upon said arms or guides, and iieXible connections between said marker and pullpieces, whereby the marker may be moved in either direction by a direct pull upon both ends of the marker; and the invention also consists in a divided and jointed base or copysupport, whereby the upper member thereof may be folded down upon the machine, and thus permit the ready concealing of the machine and the copy-holder within any ordinary type-writer cabinet or desk; and the invention further consists in details of con-r struction, all as I will proceed now more par ticularly to set forth and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several iigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is aperspective View of my copy-holder, showing a portion of a stenographers note-book attached thereto in position for use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the arms or guides folded up against the base or copysupport. Fig. 3 isa rear elevation. Fig. et is a partly detail and diagrammatic view show- Serial No. 61.420. (No model.)

ing the arrangement of the flexible connections between the marker and pull-pieces. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my copy-holder placed in position about a type-writing machine, with the base folded down upon the machine, and also showing in section a portion of a type-writer desk or cabinet in closed position. Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially in the plane of line 6 6, Fig. 2,1ooking in the direction of the arrow, the marker and pull-piece being adjusted to a different position from that shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device in position for use.

In carrying out my invention I provide a base or support a, provided at its rear with a hinged supporting-brace a. A chain a2 or othersuitable connection is arranged between 7o the base or support a and the brace a for limiting the movement of the brace away from the base and by which the base or support may be adjusted to any desired inclination. I have herein shown the brace d' provided with a hook a3, (see Fig. 7,) the chain a2 being permanently connected to the base a and its links being adapted to be placed upon the hook a3 for purposes of adjustment.

The base d is divided transversely at substantially midway of its length, and the two members thereof are hinged, as at a4, to fold inwardly for a purpose presently appearing. For the purpose ot' securing the members of the base a in their open position or position of use I provide one member with the swinging hooks a5 and the other member with suitable catches a for said hooks. (See particularly Fig. 3.) Any other suitable fastening devices may be used for this purpose.

At the upper end of the base ct I arrange the copy-holding device, which consists of a bar I), provided near its ends with pins b',

passing loosely through holes or perfor-ations in the base a, coiled springs b2 being arranged and secured upon said pins and normally drawing the bar b up against the face of the base ct. Upon the front of the bar h is arranged a leaf-holding arm b3, constructed as a wire, secured at one end in said bar and at its other end adapted to engage a catch b4, secured in the bar b. Thebase c is also provided at its four corners with openings c, c', c2, and c3 for a purpose presently appearing.

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Also arranged upon the base ai, at the lower end thereof and between and adjacent the openings c and c3, are a series of guides for the flexible connections for operating the marker. These guides in the preferred construction comprise a series of tubes which are made in pairs, and the pairs are united in any l yshort curved section of tube c7, also turned away from said opening c' at that end which is connected to the tube c6 and having its other end curved upwardly toward theupper end of the base a. The tube cs, also carried by the bracket c4, has its left-hand end bent rearwardly through the opening c' and then upwardly toward the upper end of the base d. (See Fig. The tube e9, carried by the bracket c5, has its right-hand end, Fig. 2, bent upwardly adjacent the opening c3 toward the upper end of the base a., and the tube c1U has its right-hand end bent outwardly and away from the opening c3 in the base d. Also at the lower end of the base a are arranged the arms or guides d d', aud, as herein shown, said arms or guides are constructed ol" parallel bars or rods suitablyspaced apart to form guides or supports for slidable pull-pieces, to be referred to. These arms or guides d d are hinged to the base a just above the bot-` tom edge thereof and just above and adjacent to the openings c' and c3 in said base, a-nd in order to obtain a transverse adjustment of the arms or guides CZ d' with relation to the base a, I provide the said arms or guides with the hinge members d2 d3, constructed with eyes to receive the transverse elongated pintle members d4 d5, secured to the face of the base a.

Arranged and adapted to slide upon the arms or guides d d are the pull-pieces e c', and, as herein shown, said pull-pieces e e are constructed as sleeves loosely titted upon the upper bars or rods of said arms or guides and provided with finger-pieces c2 e3. By this construction it will be observed that the pullpieces e e' are supported above and clear of the lower bars or rods of the arms or guides d d and that the said lower bars or rods will prevent the said pull-pieces from coming in contact with the table or desk upon which the device is used and permita free manipulat-ion of said pull-pieces.

fis the marker, arranged upon the front of the base or copy-support a and adapted to be moved up and down upon the base or copy supported thereon by means of iexible connections l and 2 between said marker and the pull-pieces hereinbefore referred to, whereby said marker is moved in either direction by a direct pull upon both ends of the marker.

These liexible connections are preferably cords, and are arranged and guided about the Y base a and connected to the pull-pieces in the following manner: The cord l is connectedV to pull-piece e and is then passed through,`

opening cS in the base a, (see Figs. 1, 2, and Y 3,) up the back of the base, through the opeubase a, where it is connected to the marker Y Y l' Y f, and then passes through the opening c in the upper left-hand corner of the based and down upon the back of the base and enters the upturned end of tube cs and passes through said tube to and through the tube om,v

and, emerging from the outwardly-bent end of V9o said tube om, is connected to the pull-piece e. u f

Thus it will be seen that positive pull uponY one pull-piece will draw the other pull-piece in the opposite direction; but since the direc-VV Y' '951 'i marker is drawn at both ends in one and the 1 tion of travel of the cords is reversed the same direction up or down the base, as may be desired.

In Fig'. 4 of the drawings I have indicated the cord l and its course or direction by a YI oo broken line, and the cord 2 and its direction Y' V or course by a full line, the said lines being made light to indicate where the cords are-in the rear of the base and heavy where they appear in front of the base. The arrows in losY said figure indicate not the direction of movement in operation, but the manner in which the cords pass about the base from one pullpieoe to the other when applied as abovedescribed. It will be observed that by this arrangement of the cords and their connections with the pullpieces if the pull-piece e be pulled toward the operator and away from the base a direct and simultaneous pull is obtained on both ends of the marker, and thus the marker will be moved down over the base or the copy supported thereon in an even Y and regular manner, and at the same time the pull-piece e is being drawn toward the base through its connections with the marker rect and simultaneous pull is obtained v. onV

both ends of the marker to move the marker Y. up over the baseor copy supported thereon.V The operation of my invention is as fol-V lows: The base or copy-support is suitably by its support a', and the arms or guides dd' are lowered alongside the machine, upon op-V posite sides thereof, and rest upon the table 'Y or desk. The copy to be transcribed is suitf ably arranged upon the base, as shown in Fig.

I2C*VK i' and the opposite pull-piece, and similarly, i if pull be exerted upon the pull-piece e' a di-V f l, and the marker farranged at the desired place upon the copy by manipulating the pullpieces e and el The operator having proceeded with the copying and desiring to move the marker to expose the next succeeding line it is only necessary to place the left hand upon the pull-piece e with one or more of the fingers engaging said pull-piece or its {ingerpiece c2, and with a slight pull toward the front of the machine the marker is pulled down over the copy a sufficient distance to expose the next succeeding line. This operation is carried on until the marker reaches its lowest point of use, and the marker is then returned to the starting-point by pulling upon the pull-piece e with the right hand, the said pull-piece c having been drawn toward the base by its connections with the marker during the progress of the marker over the copy. The restoration of the marker tothe startingpoint by drawing out the pull-piece e serves to drag the pull-piece e toward the base, and thus restores it to position for use and for progressively moving the marker down the next matter to be copied. It will be observed that the marker is moved in either direction by a direct pull upon both its ends.

In Fig. l I have shown a stenographers note-book arranged upon the base, or it will be observed that the upper portion, or that much of the book which is not to be used, is arranged beneath the barb and is firmly held by the spring-pressure of said bar. As the copying progresses the marker is moved down over the copy7 line by line until the page is finished, and as each page is finished it may be turned up out of the way and secured under the leaf-holding arm b3.

If it be desired to use the copy-holder for sheet-copy, then the sheet is simply placed beneath the spring-pressed bar b, and should the sheet be longer than the base its lower end may be folded or rolled and its upper end advanced beneath the bar b as the copying progresses. The operator having finished, and it being desired to close the desk or cabinet upon which the machine and copy-holder are used, the upper member of the copy-holder is folded down upon the machine, and, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, will be out of the way of the cover or top of the desk.

In order that the copy-holder may be applicable to type-writing machines having frames of varying Widths and that the arms or guides d d may be brought in close to the frame, the said arms in accordance with my invention are capable of lateral adjustment upon the elongated pintle members d* and d5 of the hinges of said arms, and so, also, the pairs of guide-tubes are laterally adjustable upon the base or copy-support by simply adjusting their supporting-brackets c* and c5. (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.)

As shown in Fig. 6, the copy-holder may be folded in a very compact manner for purposes of packing and transportation.

I wish to be understood as not limiting my v invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as the same may be changed in various particulars and still be within the scope of my invention.

W'hat I claim isl. In a copy-holder, a traveling marker, a stationary support therefor, and means to move the said marker up and down the support, such means comprising essentially flexible connections applied to opposite ends of the marker and movably arranged upon the sides of the support, movable pull-pieces in front of said support and to which opposite ends of said flexible connections are secured, and guides upon which said pull-pieces are movable.

2. -A copy-holder, comprising a stationary support, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said support, arms or guides in front of said support, pull-pieces slidably mounted upon said arms or guides, and iiexible connections applied to opposite ends of the marker and movably arranged upon the support and having their opposite ends connected to opposite pull-pieces, whereby the said marker may be moved in either direction by pull upon the proper pull-piece, substantially as described.

8. A copy-holder, comprising a stationary support, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said support, arms or guides hinged to said support, pull-pieces slidably mounted upon said arms or guides, and iiexible connections applied to opposite ends of the marker and movably arranged upon said support and having their opposite ends connected to opposite pull-pieces, whereby the said marker may be moved in either direction by pull upon the proper pull-piece, substantially as described.

4t. A copy-holder, comprising a stationary support, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said support, arms or guides adj ustably hinged to said support, pull-pieces slid-ably mounted upon said arms or guides, and iiexible connections applied to opposite ends of said marker and movably arranged upon said support and having their opposite ends connected to opposite pull-pieces, whereby the said marker may be moved in either direction by pull upon the proper pull-piece, substantially as described.

5. A copy-holder, comprising a stationary support, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said support, arms or guides hinged to said support, pull-pieces slidably mounted upon said arms or guides, flexible connections between said marker and pull-pieces, and guides for said connections arranged upon the support for directing the opposite ends of said connections to each of said pull-pieces, whereby direct pull upon both ends of the marker is obtained from either pull-piece to move the marker in the desired direction, substantially as described.

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6. A copy-holder, comprising a stationary support, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said support, arms or guides adjustably hinged to said support, pulLpieces slidably mounted upon said arms or guides, flexible connections between said marker and pullpieces, and adjustable guides for said connections arranged upon the support for directing the opposite ends of said connections to' each of said pull-pieces, whereby direct pull upon both ends of the marker is obtained from either pull-piece to move the marker in the desired direction, substantially as described.

'7. A copy-holder, comprising a base provided With openings at its upper and lower corners, a movable marker adapted to be slid upon said base, a pair of arms or guides secured to said base, pull-pieces slidabl y mounted upon said arms or guides, a series of guidetubes secured to said base, and flexible connections between the marker and pull-pieces passing through the openings in said base and about said base and through said guide: tubes from one pull-piece to the other, Whereby a direct pull upon both ends of the marker is obtained to move said marker in either direction, substantially as described.

8. In a copy-holder, a base or copy-support provided With means for holding the copy, comprising a spring-pressed bar arranged at the upper end of said base, and a leaf-holder secured to the front of said bar, substantially as described. v

9. In a copy-holder, a base orcopy-support provided With means for holding the copy, comprising a spring-pressed bar arranged at the upper end of said base, and a leaf-holder arranged upon said bar and comprising an arm secured to the bar at one end, and a catch for securing the other end of said arm in .4Q

place, substantially as described. Y Y

lO. A copy-holder for type-writing Y ma-V c Y chines, comprising a base or support having i ends of the markerand movably arrangedY upon the sides of said support and havingVKYVVV their opposite ends connected to opposite pull-pieces, whereby the marker may be pull-piece and the other pull-piece simultaneously moved to its operative position, substantially as described.

l1. A copy-holder, comprising essentially,

'moved in the desired-direction by the'proper f Y i a base upon which the copy isV held, a travel-VY c ing marker, a liexible medium movably ap-Y plied to said base and engaging the marker,

pull-pieces to Which opposite ends of said 1 i iiexible medium are secured, and guides upon which said pull-pieces are slidably mounted, the said parts arranged to eect the traverse of the marker up and down the base by alternate outward pull upon one and then the other of said pull-pieces, such movement of one pull-piece serving to set the other pull-', e 7

piece for the reverse movement of the marker, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of May, A. D. 1901.

CHARLES FRANKLIN LUDINGTON.

Titnesses :V

CLAUDED. CLARK, JOHN CoATs. 

